Improvement in seed-planters



T. J. & cm"; LEWIS.

PLANTING MACHINE.

Patented June 27, 1840.

UNITED (STATES PATENT OFFI E.

THOS. J LEWIS AND GEO. 1*. LEWIS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IM PROVEMENT n SEED-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1,657, dated June27, 1840.

vsaine'may be distinguished from other inven.

tions,together with such parts or combinations as we claim as ourinvention and hold to be original and new we have herein set forth and described, which description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, herein referred to, compose ourspecitication.

Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying plate ofdrawingsrepresentourimprovements. Fig. 1 is'an elevation of the same, Fig. Zbeing a plan of the under side, showing the position and arrangement of the various parts.

A Ais the body ofthe machine, to'which the several parts are attached. In front of this body and making partol'the same is the tongue :15, in a slot in which is arranged in the usual way the guide-wheel or roller 0. At a proper distance behind this roller is'fixed the double plowshare D', which serves to open the furrow for the reception of the seed. This plowshare admits ot'ad j ustment to any depth of furrow by 'nieans of the uprightarm F, attached to the top of the plowshare, which moves up and down in a slot of the body AA, and is clamped in any position by a pin, F, (arranged with a slit and wedge, as shown at G,) projecting from the upright- H, suitably attached to the body A A, and moving up and down in a slot in the arm F, the operation of which will be readily perceived.

l is the box or hopper in which the seed to be planted is placed, the upper part of said box being square and the lower part circular.

From the bottom of the hopper a pipe, K, communicates with the furrow and conducts the seed to the same, after which the furrow is closed by means of the scraping-frame L L, shaped and arranged as seen in the' drawings, resting on the top of the sides of the plowshare D, and turning freely-on a pivot or rod, M, so that by its own weight it adjusts itself to the different depths of the furrow, and likewise effectually closes the same. After the furrow is closed it is smoothed over by the roller N, the surface of which is sufficiently grooved to give the hill the proper shape. The axis 0 0 ofthisroller turns in suitable beariu gs, P P, attached to the bottom of the body of the machine.

The proportioning or regulation of the distribution of the seed is effected by the following arrangement of machinery: On one end of the axis 0 O of the roller N is fixed so as to turn with the same the spur-gear'wheel a,

which worksinto and turns the spur-gear wheel I), firmly fixed on one end of the axis or cyliuder 0 c, which rests and revolves in the supports or bearings d 0]. Near the other end of the axis 0 c anendless screw, d, is out, which works into and turns the cogged wheel 0, firmly andproperly fixed on the upright shaft ff. This shaft passes up through the body A A of the machine, and 'is arranged with suitable shoulders so as to turn in said body. Thetop of this axis is square and tits into a square hole in the circular plate 9 g, which revolves with said axis. ltound the edges or periphery ot this revolving plate notches or space h h are out, which, coming in contact with the conducting-tube h, before mentioned, cause the seed they-contain to drop through the same into the furrow.

Any superfluous quantity of seed is prevented from passing through the couductorby a brush over the top of the same, arranged with a pin and wedge, as'seen at It, with aslotinthe side of the hopper, by this arrangement measuring out, asit were, the seed to the furrow. The bristles in the center of the brush are longer than those on the sides, serving (as will be seen) to force the seed through the conducting-pipe into the furrow.

It will readily be perceived that the machine maybe adapted to different k'indsof seed by removing the revolving plate g g and substituting others varying in the number and size of the holes round the edges.

A hole is cutin the side of the hopperjust above the conducting-pipe, so to form, as it were, a box with three sides only, which allows the quantity of seed to expand before dropping, thereby preventing the same from clogging and greatly facilitating its passage Y The parts of the ftbOV-dSOlibGd machine may be constructed of wood or metal, or both,- at the discretion of the manufacturer.

Having thus described our improved apparatus, we shall claim in the same as our invention as follows: I p

The combination of the revolving circular plate, constructed and operated as above described, with the brush, condueting-pipqaud hole in the side of the hopper, as above set forth, for the purpose of measuring out and disltrlbutingthe seed to the furrow, and also our arrangements by which we form a box or in closure for the seed (when in apposition with theconducting-pipe)with three sides only, which greatly facilitates the dropping of the seed. l l

Ixutestimony that the foregoing is a true description of our said invention and improvements we have hereto aflixed our signatures this 25th day of July, in the year of our Lord THOMAS J. LEWIS. GEORGE F. LEWIS. Witnesses:

EZRA LINCOLN, J r..

JOHN NOBLE.- 

